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Detecting Sepsis in the ED Using a Novel Monocyte Distribution Width Biomarker
Sepsis contributes significantly to patient mortality and use of hospital resources. Most cases of sepsis are admitted through the ED, where delayed identification and treatment contribute to adverse outcomes. Often, WBC count is used in sepsis detection; however, changes in WBC size also relate to sepsis. These volumetric increases represent an early reaction of the immune cells to infection. Because of this, they may be useful biomarkers for the early identification of sepsis in patients.
Researchers studied 1,320 people to determine if measuring volumetric changes of circulating immune cells in conjunction with WBC count added value for early sepsis detection in the emergency department. Compared with WBC count alone, results revealed that monocyte distribution width (MDW) with WBC count improved sepsis detection for ED patients.
